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Football Queensland to deliver coaching courses focused on increasing representation and diversity
Football Queensland has confirmed that they are set to deliver seven MiniRoos coaching courses across the state, designed to increase the diversity and representation of qualified community coaches in the state.
Following completion of the course, all attendees will have fulfilled the first step in becoming a Casual Participation Officer who can deliver after school programs and Sporting Schools programs.
Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci acknowledged the importance of increasing representation and opportunities for First Nations peoples.
“Representation of First Nations peoples across all areas of our game is integral in ensuring football remains the game of choice for all, for life,” Cavallucci said via a statement to FQ.
“Currently only 177 coaches in Queensland identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander despite more than 3,200 First Nations players participating in Football Queensland competitions.
“The aim of these upcoming coaching courses is to provide an opportunity for our current Indigenous participants and other members of their communities to become upskilled in a new area of the game so that we can welcome more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in community coaching roles across Queensland.
“We’re thrilled to be able to deliver MiniRoos coaching courses across seven of our regions from Far North and Gulf to the South Coast, which will be free for both new and existing participants and will be delivered in conjunction with the host clubs.
“We also encourage clubs who are interested in running a similar community coaching course of their own to register their interest with Football Queensland.”
On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.
With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.
Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.
After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.
“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.
“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”
Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.
The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.
By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.
To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.
In a landmark initiative for women’s football, FIFA has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at reaching 60 million female players worldwide by 2027.
The comprehensive plan, supported by 13 distinct development programmes, is available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, marking a significant step forward in the sport’s global evolution.
FIFA also took the announcement to highlight the achievements for women’s football in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC).
The recently enhanced FIFA Women’s Development Programme underscores the organisation’s strengthened commitment to expanding the women’s game.
The upcoming 2025 calendar promises several groundbreaking developments for women’s football.
The Philippines will host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, while Morocco makes history as the first African nation to stage the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The latter tournament sees significant expansion, growing from 16 to 24 teams and shifting to an annual format.
International competition reaches new heights with continental championships scheduled across multiple confederations.
The pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 commences with African qualification matches, while major regional tournaments including the UEFA Women’s EURO and OFC Women’s Nations Cup will crown new champions.
In a significant advancement for club football, all six confederations will host their respective continental club championships for the first time.
This renewed focus comes amid unprecedented growth in participation rates, particularly evident in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-host nations.
New Zealand has reported a remarkable 27 per cent surge in female participation since 2022, with particularly strong growth among Māori and Pasifika communities, showing a 14 per cent increase.
A strategic partnership between New Zealand Football and Māori Football Aotearoa further strengthens grassroots development.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell voiced the federations successful results.
“The expansion of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand has been extraordinary, with the Women’s World Cup serving as a genuine catalyst for growth,” he explained via official FIFA press release.
Across the Tasman, Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund Community Grants programme continues to foster development at the grassroots level.
The latest round of funding benefits 118 recipients, complementing the 121 projects supported in March 2024.
This initiative particularly emphasises regional development, with nearly half the grants allocated to areas outside major metropolitan centres.
The grants provide essential support for women’s football development, encompassing coach education, introductory programmes, and vital equipment procurement, further cementing the sport’s foundation at the community level.
Also within the AFC, footballing powerhouse Japan has successfully hosted the continent’s first female-exclusive Pro Licence coaching course.
A collaborative effort between FIFA, AFC, and the Japan Football Association (JFA), represents a significant milestone in professional football development.
The intensive seven-day course attracted participants from fourteen nations, featuring presents such as AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh and Japan men’s national team coach Hajime Moriyasu.
Participants gained valuable practical experience through observations of pre-season training sessions at both J.League and Nadeshiko League clubs.
JFA Technical Director Masanaga Kageyama emphasised the programme’s strategic importance and inclusivity.
“This course is a joint AFC/JFA initiative to increase the number of top-level, professionally licensed female coaches in Asia. It aims to provide existing talents with additional advice to help them achieve greater success in their current coaching positions and secure future success,” Kageyama explained via official FIFA press release.
This initiative aligns with JFA’s renowned long-term development philosophy and a significant advancement in creating pathways for women in professional football coaching.
This newly improved strategy at the global scale will hopefully allow for more women in both professional and amateur spaces to get the opportunities they deserve in football.
It also highlight’s that AFC & OFC nations, including Australia, will have a strong place within the growth of women’s football.
Read more on the FIFA Women’s Development Program here.